Cloudbuster LIBERAL News

News articles and original posts relating to progressive and liberal political issues. Strong support for freedom of speech and the U.S. Constitution. Against war and all Bush policies, but also aware of Democrat failures, yet no other party is viable for the task of reversing the damage done to our nation by the Republican's virulent ideaology. However, the Democrats need to find a true visionary leader to put forward in 2008.

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Calling the Leaders

Americans are not illiterate. We can read newspapers, and we can use logic to reach certain conclusions based upon evidence and anecdote. I must wonder what thoughts course along the neural pathways inside the brains of men like George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and a host of others who have attained the highest levels of authority in our nation. One must have a modicum of intelligence to reach such a position, so I assume that these leaders are fully aware of their own deceptions and blatant lies. Or could it be that after repeating the same non truths over and over, they actually begin to believe that they speak truthfully.

It is clear that the human mind is an awesomely mysterious organ, but I cannot bring myself to buy into such an idea. It is not possible to deceive oneself so thoroughly. No, I feel confident that our leaders are acutely aware of what they are doing! They have managed, by means of a spectacular and fiery fault of providence, to put a political stranglehold on America, and a military harness around the globe. Of course, in light of the fact that the traditional American press has been vacant, failing to probe and quest for pertinent answers to the questions of war, poverty, and all the other social ills that would be so easily remedied by a truly united people imbued with common cause. Instead, millions of Americans have become complacent and apathetic, highly medicated and distracted by a broad range of substances and materialism, while the men and women at the pinnacle of power are practically immune to critical attention. Our leaders have become secure in their power and arrogance, their actions driven by self aggrandizement and personal enrichment. However, it appears that time is no longer their ally. Enough conscientious people have become weary of the selfish and obscene behavior which is bringing the Earth and her peoples closer and closer to a general collapse of civility and civilization. If enough of us act now, without further delay, there is a chance that we can turn the ship of state back onto a prudent course. You representatives of the people must instigate major changes and foster the positive movement along with us, your partners and fellow stewards. Please do what you must do to recreate the best of what was once known proudly as America.

Just as President Nixon engaged in domestic surveillance against anti-war groups during the Viet Nam conflict, President Bush is apparently engaging in massive homeland spying on all manner of homegrown anti-war, environmental, and other groups of American intelligentsia. When are the American people going to stand up and say NO!? - Randwolfe

FBI says it has files on advocacy groupsOrganizations say records will show misuse of terror task forces

Sunday, July 17, 2005; Posted: 10:38 p.m. EDT (02:38 GMT)

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI has thousands of pages of records in its files relating to the monitoring of civil rights, environmental and similar advocacy groups, the Justice Department has acknowledged.

The organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Greenpeace, are suing for the release of the documents. The organizations contend that the material will show that they have been subjected to scrutiny by FBI task forces set up to combat terrorism.

The FBI has identified 1,173 pages related to the ACLU and 2,383 pages about Greenpeace, but it needs at least until February to process the ACLU files and until June to review the Greenpeace documents, the government said in a filing in U.S. District Court in Washington.

The FBI has not said specifically what those pages contain. The ACLU’s executive director, Anthony Romero, said the disclosure indicates that the FBI is monitoring organizations that are engaging in lawful conduct.

“I know for an absolute fact that we have not been involved in anything related to promoting terrorism, and yet the government has collected almost 1,200 pages on our activities,” Romero said. “Why is the ACLU now the subject of scrutiny from the FBI?”

John Passacantando, Greenpeace’s U.S. executive director, said his group is a forceful, but peaceful, critic of the Bush administration’s war and environmental policies.

“This administration has a history of using its powers against its peaceful critics. If, in fact, the FBI has been deployed to help in that effort, that would be quite shocking,” Passacantando said.

Justice Department and FBI spokesmen declined to comment, citing the ongoing case. The FBI has denied singling out individuals or groups for surveillance or investigation based solely on activities protected by the Constitution’s guarantees of free speech.

Officials have said agents adhere strictly to Justice Department guidelines requiring evidence of criminal activity or indications that a person may know something about a crime.

The ACLU has sought FBI files on a range of individuals and groups interviewed, investigated or subjected to searches by the task forces. The requests also are for information on how the task forces are funded to determine if they are rewarded with government money by labeling high numbers of cases as related to terrorism.

The government did release one document it gathered on United for Peace and Justice that Romero said reinforces his concerns. The organization describes itself as a coalition of more than 1,300 anti-war groups.

A memo from September 4, 2003, about Internet sites that were promoting protests at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York was addressed to counterterrorism units in Boston, Los Angeles and New York.

“Why is this being labeled as counterterrorism when it’s nothing more protests at a political convention, a lawful First Amendment activity?” Romero asked.

About Me

Despise Bush and Cheney and all repressive, power hungry despots. Love peace, freedom, respect, compassionate people and good stuff in general. I love animals, and insist that they have MORE rights than humans. Life is challenging, but anything else would be boring. I'm currently single but would like to change that. I want to check out South America, the political winds there are feeling fresh. I have travelled to Europe, Russia, Mexico, Central America, and Canada. I am a political activist hoping to see America grow into the liberal paradise it should be. Peace is possible when enough good people take action.